Lapponian Herder Information & Dog Breed Facts

Introduction

The Lapponian Herder is a Spitz breed that was developed specifically for reindeer herding and as a family companion for the Sami, Lapland’s indigenous people. Lapland is now split between Finland and Sweden, and while these dogs are uncommon elsewhere, they are prevalent in this area. These herding dogs are smart, loyal, and fast to learn and adapt. Although they are highly lively and have great stamina, Lapponian Herders are placid in the home. They can be wary of strangers at first, but they warm up fast. They are fiercely protective of their family members and frequently bark, which makes them great guard dogs.

History

The use of dogs by the Sami people in Lapland has been documented historically since B.C. times. Originally, dogs were companions for nomadic people and they were likely related to the Finnish Lapphund. The Sami people maintained a subsistence lifestyle, using wild reindeer to supplement their berry gathering for nutrition and clothing.

The dogs guarded the tribes at first, but they did not take part in the herding. Beginning in the 17th century, reindeer herding became an important part of the Sami way of life. This was in response to the region’s nation-building efforts (Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia). These countries’ tax bases included the Sami who needed to improve their ability to trade and produce income. Reindeer herding was greatly enhanced by herding dogs, and their use became central to the survival and lifestyle of the Sami people.

The original herding dogs gave rise to several breeds, including the Lapponian Herder, Finnish Lapphund, Swedish Lapphund, and the Norwegian Elkhound. Furthermore, during the mid-19th century, around the Second World War, breeders attempted to conserve the Finnish herding dogs, which were on the verge of extinction, just like many other breeds at that time. Breeders in Sweden and Finland began to try to recreate the lost reindeer herding dogs in their various forms.

The first among them was recognized as the Kukonharjulainen and the breed was a few of the herding dogs crossed with black and white Karelian Bear Dogs, resulting in a short-coated dog. Other breeders with another kennel club in Finland created another breed, this one with a more heavy coat, called the Lapponian Herder. Most dogs were collected in the late 1950s, and their look was used to classify them as one of the two kinds. In the early 1960s, the two kennel clubs merged and all the Finnish reindeer dogs were placed in the same registry. They have split again in 1966, this time based on coat length.

Appearance

The Lapponian Herder is a medium-sized shepherd dog of the Spitz breed. Its length clearly exceeds its height, and its bones and muscles are robust. It has a muscular build yet isn’t bulky. The head is a little longer than average. The muzzle is significantly shorter than the skull and the top of the head is slightly convex. The oval, black and lively eyes are separated by a considerable distance. The upright ears are mid-length, wide at the base, and spaced apart. The tail is medium in length, bushy, and attached low to the ground. The coat is black, greyish, or brown in color and can be medium or long in length. The head, chest, and legs are commonly marked with lighter markings than the rest of the body.

Recognition

The Finnish Kennel Club recognized the Lapponian Shepherd Dog in 1945, which included dogs with longer and shorter coats. In 1966, the Lapponian Herder, also know now as the Lapinporokoira, was recognized as a distinct, shorter-coated breed. The Finnish Lapphund, or Lapinkoira, was developed simultaneously as a longer-coated variety. In 1999, the Federation Cynologique International amended and approved the breed standards. The United Kennel Club recognized these dogs under a broader Herding category. The breed was also added to the Herding group of the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service Program in 2017 to facilitate record-keeping and encourage breed preservation for rare breeds not currently recognized by the AKC.